Policy & Regulations

This channel includes news coverage of healthcare policy and regulations set by Congress, the states, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and medical associations and societies. 

Thumbnail

Health-tech companies back new legislation introduced to modernize ‘outdated’ health privacy laws

Teladoc Health, IBM, Epic and others all support the bipartisan Health Data Use and Privacy Commission Act.

With patient safety slipping, CDC and CMS turn focus to more resilient approaches

COVID-19 has led to a quick and steep decline in patient safety across the entire American healthcare system.

HHS awards $55 million to expand virtual healthcare access

The awards will enhance telehealth, digital patient tools and health information technology to support underserved communities.

Thumbnail

Prior authorization adversely impacts patient care, workforce productivity

An AMA survey shows that prior authorization can have harsh consequences on evidence-based care that interfere with a healthy, productive workforce.

Thumbnail

CVS seeks to relieve overworked pharmacists with new policy

Pharmacists have also been affected by the pandemic, with higher than previously reported rates of burnout affecting the profession.

pain pills opioids

CDC updates clinical practice guideline for prescribing opioids

The new guideline suggests prescribing opioid-naïve patients with acute, subacute, or chronic pain the "lowest dosage to achieve expected effects."

Thumbnail

HHS warns hospitals to safeguard against LockBit 2.0 ransomware

While the cybercrime organization claims to not attack healthcare organizations it remains a threat to the entire U.S. healthcare and public health sector, according to a recent alert.

Thumbnail

More states considering legislation to help low-income patients pay high medical debt

The United States Census Bureau reports that 19% of U.S. households could not afford to pay for medical care right away.

Around the web

The tirzepatide shortage that first began in 2022 has been resolved. Drug companies distributing compounded versions of the popular drug now have two to three more months to distribute their remaining supply.

The 24 members of the House Task Force on AI—12 reps from each party—have posted a 253-page report detailing their bipartisan vision for encouraging innovation while minimizing risks. 

Merck sent Hansoh Pharma, a Chinese biopharmaceutical company, an upfront payment of $112 million to license a new investigational GLP-1 receptor agonist. There could be many more payments to come if certain milestones are met.